, 1887-01-01
CHINESE PIRATES.

berth for me. One of the largest trading
houses in Canton at that time was COM
posed of three Americans, and they owned
two small steamers and three OF four sail
craft. These vessels were employed in
collecting goods from the various islands
to the southeast, and some of the voy-
ages extended up the Yellow sea us far as
Teng-chow. Just at that time the firm
had come Into possession of u new
steamer, and she was about to make her
first voyage. There had been trouble
with piratical craft, and the steamer had
been fitted out to take care of herself.
She carried two six Founders. twenty
American cavalry carbines. a score of re-
volvers, and was fixed to throw hot
water over boarders. Her compliment Of
men was fifteen, of whom the cook.
steward and three firemcn We're natives.
All others were Americans and English
men. The supercargo vas an American.
who could rattle off the Chimes, language
as well as the best Of 'em, and the cap
tain and some of the others could ''smat-
ter more or less.
Our first voyage was 10 be up the Vel
low sea. and we carried n load Of Ameri-
can and English goods. The cargo well
deserved the name of miscellaneous -
There were muskets, fish spears. sole
leather, tinware, looking glasses. c~alicoeS.
buttons. stoneware, lamps, fish nets, gro
ceries. axes and almost everything else
you can think Of, and the supercargo also
carried money to purchase what we could
not traffic for. We were to pick up in
exchange whatever foreign markets called
for in Canton. which included teas, rice.
several species Of nuts. dye stuffs, roots.
barks. skins. etc.
l was in luck to secure the place of
mate, for Capt. Tabor was a splendid fell
low and tho crew was one which could be
depended ON. We had three or our men
who understood the handling Of the six
Founders, which had been sent over from
the United States, and with the supply OF
small arms at hand we felt ourselves Il
match for anything except n regular gun
boat. We got away in good shape. ran
up between the coast and the island Of
Fornosa, and then steered to the north
east to fetch the Lioo-Kioo islands. which
are seven or eight in number and deal in
ginseng, sarsaparilla and other molical
roots. We stopped n day at Ke-I.ung,
which is at the northern end of FormoSi,
and almost opposite Foochow, ON the
mainland. and while here il was noticed
that the native members Of our crew were
very thick with a lot Of suspicious charac.
tiers who were hanging about us the
greater mart of the day. The suporcarn
overheard them discussing our voyage
and making many inquiries, and when he
spoke of the matter TO the steward that
pietailal gentleman explained that all our
natives were related to the stranger, wh0
had been hanging about. and of course
the latter took an interest in them.
didn't know Chinese characters as
well AS some Of the othes. and was there
fore somewhat surprised to hear the rap
tain and supercargo discussing the impl-
dence of the natives aboard before we had
left Ke-lung by fifty miles. The fire
men had given the engineer trouble. and
the steward had n certain sort Of impu-
dence in his obedience TO commands.
did not know until now that a gang of
twenty or more of tho fellows at Kc-
Lung had attempted Ia induce the cap
tain To give them passage to the island Of
T%secu~in, which W. meant To visit. They
had offered big passage money and were
willing to put up with any accommodate
tons. but hc mistrusted them, and firmly
declined To have n Of them aboard.
The steward and fircmen were soundly
bcratcd by the captain and threatened
with irons if any more trouble occurred,
and there the matter was dropped. At
the clos of the second day we dropped
anchor oH n small island 10 the south
west of Tseeusan called Kung-Wah.
There N no harbor. but the depth OF
the water enabled us Ia get within a
cables length of the beach in n compare